Since June marks the beginning of summer, the focus is upon celebrating our world’s oceans and seas. Enjoying the water, keeping it clean, and staying safe out on the water are all major movements celebrated and promoted during this first month of summer.
A variety of special days and minor holidays centering on water happen in June:
This focus day, similar to Earth Day, has just passed, but its message is eternal. Keep our world’s oceans and beaches clean and they’ll be there for generations to enjoy and use. Whether it’s June or December, everyone can pitch in at any time to keep our waterways ship-shape — not just for the oceans and seas, but for lakes, rivers, ponds, and any other waterways as well.
Want to help? Check this list of websites for the National Seashore or Lakeshore near you for when they need volunteers to pick up beaches, clear storm drains, or join fundraisers. Not near the sea or lake? Check the National Park Service for similar info. Or, plan an event for next year’s World Oceans Day.
The first day of summer, otherwise known as the Summer Solstice, usually is the longest day of the year with the most daylight in the northern hemisphere. It’s the opposite in the southern hemisphere, December 21. What a sunny holiday season the southern hemisphere gets!
Generally, the first day of summer will have between 14 to 16 hours of daylight, depending on climate and whether the sun is directly overhead in relation to the earth’s axis exactly on June 21st, astronomically speaking. With all that daylight, get out on the water and enjoy it while it lasts!
Chances are, even if you live inland or are completely landlocked, many of the goods you buy in your local department or big box store have at one point been shipped by sea. An almost innumerable amount of goods arrives in the U.S. at one port or another initially before being trucked to its final destination. The major coastal cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Boston are some of the busiest seaports in the world.
On June 25th, commemorate the Day of Seafarer by filling in the sentence and tweeting or messaging across your social networks: “Seafarers brought me … #thankyouseafarers.” Or, write on the Seafarer’s wall here: http://dayoftheseafarer2014.imo.org/.
To get the ball rolling:
“Seafarers brought me business! All those boats need Run-Dry® Impellers and DRIVESAVER® flexible couplings, #thankyouseafarers.”
Probably one of the most important focus weekends for June is Operation Dry Water. An effort put forth by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators to encourage people to not boat under the influence with the goal to decrease boating fatalities. Boating under the influence is the leading factor in recreational boater deaths, accounting for 16% of boating fatalities.
Take the pledge to support Operation Dry Water here: http://www.operationdrywater.org/index.php/odw/boat_pledge_step1.
And remember, safety first; bring along an extra Run-Dry® Impeller just in case!
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